Anthony & Associates, Inc., President & Wood Scientist
Ron Anthony, President and Wood Scientist for Anthony & Associates, received an M.S. in Wood Science and Technology from Colorado State University. He has focused on evaluating the performance of wood in historic structures and conducting forensic investigations. He has authored more than 125 publications, and participated in conferences and seminars and consulted throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the South Pacific. He is the 2002 recipient of the James Marston Fitch Foundation Grant for his approach to evaluating wood in historic buildings. He is a Fellow of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), a recipient of APT’s Harley J. McKee Award, APT’s Arthur J. Femenella Award for Distinguished Mentorship, and APT’s Martin E. Weaver Award.
Presentation
Variability & Wood
How can two pieces of lumber that look virtually identical have vastly different behavior?
Understanding factors that influence the behavior of wood or timber and its inherent variability helps to make informed decisions about the suitability of material for a particular application. Wood properties are variable due to species and natural characteristics that affect the performance of the material. This presentation will explore the basis of the values we find in the literature. Nondestructive testing methods are a means of obtaining information on wood that may also aid in making decisions. Nondestructive testing methods have their own variability and/or limitations that are often not well understood. This presentation will introduce common nondestructive methods and the technical premise behind them. Material information that is supported by the findings of nondestructive testing, coupled with thoughtful interpretation of the information and data, provides a higher level of what we know and can expect about the performance of wood. This presentation will help attendees by looking behind the curtain of wood behavior and nondestructive testing for evaluating the condition or properties of wood as an engineering material.